Recently, the Detroit Free Press reported about the new strict rules the State Department has made regarding passports. Among the new rules are the requirements that U.S. citizens will have to have a passport to get back into the country, even after visiting the U.S. friendliest neighbors. Here are some of the new passport regulations:

New rules will go into effect for the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and Central and South America in the following manner:

Effective December 31, 2006, you will be required to have a passport if traveling to any of the above countries by airliner or cruise ship. Effective December 31, 2007, a passport will be required if you travel across a land border by vehicle.

The State Department acknowledged that a passport is burdensome for travelers who frequently drive across the border. The State Department is coming up with a travel card concept. The travel card would be as secure as a passport but considerably cheaper. And it would resemble a driver's license.

Anyone more than $5000 in arrears on child support will be denied a passport. The same goes for anyone under indictment by either state or federal government.

If your name changes through marriage or divorce, beginning in September, you must apply for a new passport.

Last of all, the State Department cautioned that you may run into problems at the airport if your name on the ticket doesn't match the one on your passport.

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